The Toronto Blue Jays have declined the 2027 club option for Myles Straw, making the 32-year-old outfielder a free agent.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The Toronto Blue Jays have declined the $8 million club option for outfielder Myles Straw for the 2027 season, the club announced Monday. The decision makes the 32-year-old free agent.
Straw's $8 million option would have been the fourth season of a five-year, $25 million contract. Instead of the option, Straw will receive a $1.75 million buyout. According to reports from MLB.com and Sportsnet, the Cleveland Guardians will cover this buyout as part of the terms of the trade that brought Straw to the Blue Jays prior to the 2025 season.
Straw's performance during his tenure in Toronto showed variation between his first and second seasons. In 2025, he recorded a .262 batting average, a .313 on-base percentage, and a .367 slugging percentage with four home runs and 12 steals in 299 plate appearances. He also provided 2.8 wins above replacement according to Baseball Reference and appeared in 15 post-season games during the team's run to the World Series.
In 2026, Straw's statistics saw a decline. He hit .241 with a .304 on-base percentage and a .342 slugging percentage across 330 plate appearances. His offensive production included three home runs, 26 RBI, and seven stolen bases. His OPS fell from .680 in 2025 to .646 in 2026.
Defensive metrics also showed a decrease. While he was a 90th percentile defensive player with a plus-nine Statcast fielding run value in his first season with the Blue Jays, he graded out in the 67th percentile at a plus-three in 2026. However, he did record a 4 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2026, which ranked in the 88th percentile.
The decision comes as the Blue Jays set their 40-man roster for the offseason. The team has reinstated several players from the 60-day injured list, including right-handers José Berríos, Jake Bloss, Cody Ponce, and Bowden Francis, as well as outfielders Jonatan Clase and Anthony Santander, and right fielder Addison Barger. Additionally, right-hander CJ Van Eyk was assigned to Triple-A after clearing waivers.
While the Blue Jays have a logjam of outfielders, there is speculation regarding potential future moves. According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, there could be a pathway to a reunion with Straw, as he has expressed a desire to return to the organization. "Whatever the team decides to do, I love it here and I hope I'm back. I’d love to be back," Straw said at the end of the season.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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